Psaki: White House expects eligible Afghans to safely evacuate despite Taliban warning

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that the Biden administration expects Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other Afghans seeking to evacuate the country to safely reach Kabul’s airport, despite the Taliban’s warning that it would no longer allow Afghans to leave.

"Our expectation and what we will continue to convey directly through a range of channels we have is that the individuals, the Special Immigrant Visa applicants, those who are eligible, those who we are facilitating their departure, will be able to reach the airport," Psaki said. An administration official confirmed earlier Tuesday that President Biden had decided against extending evacuation operations and the planned U.S. troop withdrawal beyond his original Aug. 31 deadline. However, in a statement before her briefing, Psaki said Biden "asked the Pentagon and the State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timeline should that become necessary." Psaki noted that the evacuation effort was "on pace to finish by August 31st," but she added that completion of the U.S. mission was contingent on cooperation from the Taliban.